Denver main library set to restore hours with money from de-Brucing tax vote

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock on Saturday will mark the restoration of hours at Denver’s Central Library with a press event and a celebration — the restoration is due to the passage of Measure 2A by city voters in November.

Denver Central Library will restore its hours to 56 hours a week due to the voters’ approval of Ballot Measure 2A, which allows the city tor retain tax revenue that normally would be returned under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. (Courtesy of the City and County of Denver).

The library’s hours had been cut over the years because of budgetary problems. Hours are being restored because an additional $68 million a year will be coming into the general fund because the city can now opt out of the state-mandated spending cap formula under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The move, also known as de-Brucing, allows the city to keep tax revenue it collects but refunds under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Libraries will get an extra $3 million a year, allowing for a 40 percent increase in hours over the system. All branch libraries will be open a minimum of 48 hours per week, including two evening hours and new weekend hours at several locations. The Central Library, which will begin the new schedule on Saturday, will be open 56 hours per week with Saturday morning hours restored.

The Smiley Branch Library and Ross-Broadway Branch Library will be opening two additional days per week, increasing their hours from 32 to 48 weekly, beginning next week.

On the week of March 11, The Ross-Cherry Creek Branch Library will be opening two additional days, increasing its hours from 32 to 48 per week.

The library has begun hiring more staff to accommodate the new hours that will be phased in as the new staff gets hired and trained.

On Saturday, Hancock will celebrate the restoration of hours with City Librarian Shirley Amore and library enthusiasts at the 9 a.m. Saturday event.

A voice of reason! More Library hours? Paved roads? New cops and fire fighters? Obviously the acts of a brazen, dictatorial government hellbent on becoming an omnipotent presence in the lives of Denverites.

Or maybe you need to go live in another city if you don’t approve of things like, you know, essential municipal services…

More De-Brucing needs to occurr in Colorado. I know libraries who de-bruced in 2000 and the communities in Colorado have reaped the many benefits of expanded services including state of the art technology services, internet and others. Best decisions the communities ever made.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.